Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Your Guide

Shockingly different than memorials until that time, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has become a place of healing – meeting the four basic criteria of the design competition: that it be reflective and contemplative in character; that it harmonize with its surroundings; that it contain the names of all or died or remain missing; and that it make no political statement. It was designed to be a park within a park and reflect its surroundings as well as the people looking at the names inscribed on it. The evocative design consists of a black granite wall, a V-shaped gash in the ground with one arm directed toward the Lincoln Memorial and the other toward the Washington Monument.

Aerial View

The V-shaped memorial is a gash in the ground; it has become a place of healing. Powerful in its simplicity, architect Maya Lin intended the memorial to “allow everyone to respond and remember.”

Image: National Park Service

A Solemn Visit

A visit to the wall can be solemn; people can be seeking the name of a loved one or recognizing immense sacrifice.

Image: National Park Service

Looking Toward the Washington Monument

One angle of the wall points toward the Washington Monument, the other points toward the Lincoln Memorial. In 2007 the memorial was ranked tenth on the American Institute of Architects “List of America’s Favorite Architecture.”

Image: National Park Service

Ceremony

Ceremony at the wall. The Vietnam Veteran’s Fund continues to support the memorial and its maintenance. The memorial also has a very active veteran’s volunteer program, and yellow-shirted veterans regularly interact with visitors.

Image: National Park Service

The Three Servicemen

The Three Servicemen statue represents ethnic diversity of the troops; they look toward the wall.

Image: National Park Service

Three Servicemen Statue

Close-up of the Three Servicemen statue.

Image: National Park Service

Statue Detail

Close-up showing detail of the Three Servicemen statue.

Image: National Park Service

Directory of Names

Directories help visitors locate names on the wall.

Image: National Park Service

Inscribed Names

Names inscribed on the wall are updated as status changes.

Image: National Park Service

Plaque by the Three Servicemen

A plaque installed in the paving near the Three Servicemen statue.

Image: National Park Service

Flagpole Base

The flagpole base illustrates different service branches.

Image: National Park Service

Wreaths at the Memorial

Wreaths are often placed at areas within the memorial; here shown is the Vietnam Women's Memorial

Image: National Park Service

Comments

Carla CorbinJune 18, 2013 5:15 PM

Ms. Martin is correct: Arnold Associates was the landscape architecture firm that worked with Maya Lin and with the architects of record, Cooper Lecky Partnership, to develop the design and see it through to realization. Mary Pat Hogan, in the Arnold office, was most directly involved in the design development and construction phases. Joe Brown of EDAW was landscape architect for a latter phase when the flag and statues were added, with associated changes to the paths and paving; Sheila Brady was the project LA.

Heather MartinSeptember 19, 2012 3:30 PM

If this is a landscape architect's guide, you might consider including information (at least in the history section) about the landscape architecture firm involved in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that was also involved in the location and design of the plaque. That firm is Arnold Associates.